Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center Brings Nature to Patients with a Green Roof

Toledo, Ohio and Spring Lake, Mich. – Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center is now housed under a green roof of lush plants. Many patient rooms face the 2,500 square-foot rooftop terrace green roof, which features a courtyard for the exclusive enjoyment of patients and their families. The LiveRoof® Hybrid Green Roof System was selected for the terrace green roof, which was installed by Advanced Roofing Services with plants grown by Corso’s Perennials.

Patients and their visitors can see the park-like setting from over 84 patient rooms, multiple waiting rooms, and visitor lounges. While most renovations are focused on improving work flow or updating areas, this renovation stemmed from a desire to provide naturally healing and calming space for visitors, patients and staff.

“With the completion of the roof top garden, I believe it will reduce stress with our employees and improve the outcomes of some of our patients, while improving the experience for all patients and their families. This will be a place to relax and enjoy a tranquil distraction within our complex," expressed Jennifer Yockey, an MSN, CIC Infection Control Nurse with Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.

“We delivered the LiveRoof modules full of regionally adapted and locally cultivated plants that were mature, thriving, and ready for the rigors of the rooftop environment,” said Gus Corso, owner of Corso’s Perennials (Sandusky, Oh.). Corso’s Perennials is LiveRoof’s licensed regional grower and distributor for western Pennsylvania, Ohio and parts of West Virginia.

Green roofs, or vegetation on roofs, offer many benefits, including, beautification, water management, air purification and an increase in energy efficiency.

"In addition to the benefits to the patients, their families and staff, the roof will help reduce noise pollution, minimize water runoff and provide a wildlife habit for birds and bees. These systems will be enjoyed by generations to come," said Dan Cartell, LiveRoof sales representative for Corso’s Perennials.

Todd Kwapich, Project Coordinator for Mercy, said, "The space seemed perfect for this endeavor. The totally enclosed area was previously a drab ‘concrete jungle’ that was just not utilized. Now it is like the signature hole on a golf course.”

The LiveRoof system greens other rooftops of Mercy facilities. “Our sister hospital, Mercy St. Charles, has installed these roof top gardens with success, on multiple roofs at their facility. We used this concept with the additional thought of human interaction, and came up with a great location," said Kwapich.